§ 121-321. Definitions.

The following words, terms, and phrases, when used in this article, shall have the meanings ascribed to them in this section, except where the context clearly indicates a different meaning:

Awning sign means a sign displayed on or attached flat against the surface of a roof-like cover, generally made of plastic, canvas or other fabric-like material which projects from the wall of a building.

Banner means a suspended sign made of flexible material such as canvas, sailcloth, plastic or waterproof paper.

Canopy or marquee sign means a sign affixed to a roof-like structure of a permanent nature which projects from the wall of a building. A canopy may also be a freestanding multisided structure supported by columns.

Changeable copy sign means a sign or portion thereof with characters, letters, numbers or illustrations that can be manually or remotely changed or rearranged without altering the face or the surface of the sign.

(1)

"Manually activated changeable copy sign" means a sign whose message copy or content can be changed manually on a display surface.

(2)

"Electrically activated changeable copy sign" means a sign whose message copy or content can be changed by means of remote electrically energized on-off switching combinations of alphabetic or pictographic components arranged on a display surface. Illumination may be integral to the components, such as characterized by lamps or other light emitting devices; or it may be from an external light source designed to reflect off the changeable component display. See also "electronic message sign."

Construction sign means a sign identifying individuals or companies involved in design, construction, wrecking, financing, development or modification of a building/lot and/or identifying the future use of the building/lot.

Driveway traffic sign means a sign which designates entrances and exits to a parking area for a building or lot in order to ensure the safe and orderly flow of traffic.

Electronic message sign means a sign or portion thereof with characters, letters, or illustrations that can be electronically changed or rearranged without altering the face or the surface of the sign.

Exterior lot line means a lot line which abuts a street.

Front building wall means the elevation that faces the front lot line, except where the primary entrance to the building is on an elevation that does not face the front lot line. In such a case, the elevation with the primary entrance may be considered the front building wall.

Gross surface area of sign means the entire area of the sign on which copy could be placed and viewed. The supporting structure or bracing of a sign shall not be counted as a part of the gross surface area unless such a structure or bracing is made a part of the sign's commercial message.

(1)

Sign area for all individual letter signs shall be the area of the smallest series of rectangles or squares which can encompass all words, figures, emblems, logos and other elements of the sign message.

(2)

In computing the area of a double-faced or multiple-faced sign only one side shall be considered provided all faces are identical in size, constructed with solid material in between faces or constructed back to back. A sign without solid material in between faces and not constructed back to back shall only be calculated according to the rule for double-faced signs if the interior angle formed by the faces is less than 46 degrees.

Ground sign means a sign which is attached to or part of a completely self-supporting structure that is firmly set in, upon or below the ground surface. When a ground sign is attached to posts or columns, the bottom edge can be no more than five feet off of the ground surface.

Height means, for all ground signs, the distance between the existing preconstruction grade at the base of the sign or supporting structure and the highest point on the sign or supporting structure.

Memorial sign means a sign, grave marker, memorial plaque, building marker or other remembrances of people or events which are cut into a masonry surface or made of bronze or similar material usually permanently embedded into a wall, structure, or the ground and which are noncommercial in nature.

Menu board sign means a sign used for displaying a list of items available at a restaurant and may include a sign oriented for drive-through business for the purpose of taking drive-through orders.

Multiple-tenant sign means a sign meant to advertise a commercial development in which there exists more than one separate commercial activity and where there may be shared facilities, parking or pedestrian amenities, and which is designed to provide a single area in which the public can obtain varied products and services.

Nameplate means a type of sign allowed for the sole purpose of identifying the occupants of a structure, the property name or identifying the address of the business or residence. The sign may not contain any form of advertising.

Neon sign means any sign that is illuminated by tubes filled with neon, argon, krypton and related inert gases, including any display of neon lighting tubes which is in view of the general public from a public right-of-way or from any public area, regardless of the shape, size, design or configuration.

Off-premises sign means a sign which directs attention to a business, commodity, service, or entertainment conducted, sold, or offered elsewhere than upon the lot where the sign is displayed. Off-premises signs include billboards but do not include traffic and municipal signs authorized by the village located off-premises.

Pole sign means a sign attached or supported by a single pole, pylon or post whose bottom edge is more than one foot above the ground.

Political sign means a sign intended for a political purpose or a message which pertains to an issue of public policy of possible concern to the electorate, but does not include a message intended solely for a commercial purpose.

Portable sign means any sign designed as or capable of being transported and not permanently affixed to the ground.

Projecting sign means a sign, other than a wall sign, which is affixed to any building wall or structure and extends beyond the building wall, or parts thereof, or structure more than one foot.

Real estate sign means all signs for the purpose of selling, renting or leasing real estate, including, but not limited to, all advertisement entitled "for sale," "for rent," "for lease," "now renting," "now leasing," "land available" or "space available."

Recreational use means a land use that is primarily related to amusement, sport or leisure activity.

Residential sale means all general sales open to the public, conducted from or on a residential premises for the purpose of disposing of personal property, including but not limited to, all sales entitled "yard," "garage," "rummage," "lawn," "attic," "porch," "patio," "backyard," or "flea market."

Roof sign means a sign erected, constructed and maintained on or above the roof of any building.

Sandwich board sign means a sign that is constructed with two pieces of material, connected at the top, which pieces form a triangular shape and are self-supporting; also known as an "A-frame" sign.

Sign means any display of lettering, logos, colors, lights, symbols or illuminated neon tubes visible to the public from outside of a building or from a traveled way, which either conveys a message to the public, or intends to advertise, direct, invite, announce or draw attention to goods, products, services, facilities, persons, property interest or business either on the lot or on any other premises.

Special event sign means any sign or banner erected on a temporary basis for a temporary event of public interest such as a fundraiser, church fair, carnival, festival, concert, parade, grand opening or similar event.

Subdivision sign means a sign used to identify the name and entryway to a subdivision.

Temporary sign means any sign which is intended to be displayed for a limited period of time only and is not permanently embedded in the ground or affixed to a wall or building. The specific length of display for each temporary sign is listed in section 121-327. A temporary sign may not circumvent length of display requirements by interrupting their display for a period of time any less than 30 days.

Wall sign means any sign affixed or attached to and erected parallel to the face of and confined within the limits of the exterior wall. This definition includes signs composed of individual letters or symbols.

Window sign means any sign which is affixed or placed upon a building window, including those painted on the glass.

(Ord. No. 06-04, § 1(8-8.01), 3-20-2006; Ord. No. 15-13, § II, 7-20-2015)